Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-01-13

quests for improvements, for the purchase
OF land, and for the building OF cottages
/ recommend that whatever moneys are
expended by the Pontiac and Kalamazoo
asylums shall be taken from their surplus
funds. At the rate charged for caring for
patients during the present low prices OF
provisions, quite a substantial saving Is
made, and il is out of this that IL Is recon-
mended the improvements asked for shall
be made. The colony system, so far as 1t
keeping patients in the main buildings, as
cottages can be built for from $3.50 to $500
per patient, while the main buildings have
cost more than 1000 per patient; and
besides, these cottages placed on farms
give the patients work which they gladly
perform, and not only benefit themselves,
but contribute much towards their own
support. l hope the asylum for insane
criminals at Ionia will not be enlarged,
but that is may be turned into much
needed prison for women, and a new asy-
lum, where ample lands can be obtained,
may be erected for the criminal insane.
Narcotics and restraints have been almost
entirely done away with in our asyluns.
The Mining school has opened under the
most favorable auspices, and Already al
the close of the first term is in admirable
and established working order The young
men in attendance are enthusiastic over
the course of instruction given.
The governor takes exceptions TO that
portion of the report of the board of cor
rections and charities referring to the
methods of doing business in state lnstitu-
tions, which the board considered loose.
The boards of these institutions are made
up from the very best men in our state
men who give their time and thought to
the care of the same without pay or thanks,
but simply from q motive TO serve the
state and do what they can for the unfor-
tunate inmates of them. They are in a
- No. WUer. mud
their judgments as to any emergency
which arises, and which cannot be pro-
vided for by special legislation because
unforeseen. should be either accepted
by the state or else the system should
be abolished or other men appointed
to fill their places. Contingencies for the
expenditure of money will continually
come up, and when they do must be met,
and there is no way to meet them except
by giving TO the board in charge discre
tionary powers to great extent. Nc
great improvements or expenditures
should be made without legislative enact
ment; but after all, in the main the man
agement of these institutions must be left
wilh their respective boards. the same as
a successful business is always in the
hands of its proprietors. / think IL would
be wise to enact law requiring the
settlements with the state covering all
unused or accumulated balances in the
state treasury. This would be doing bust
ness in a business way. l believe the
board Of corrections and charities are do
ing a most excellent work in the state. but
think they are accomplishing their great
est good in Connection with our county
agents, jails and poorhouses, and / hope
their powers and duties may be confined
to the latter work and that they may be
relieved from looking after the state insti
buttons. recommend the law be changed
accordingly.
The governor recites the history of the
soldiers home and says:
j have no doubt but fully an average OF
400 veterans will needs be accommodated,
and when they have all passed away and
the building is no longer required for their
occupancy, it will be a most excellent one
for the state to use as an asylum or foI
other purposes. Other states have fol
lowed the example of Michigan in caring
for its veterans, and sincerely trust you
will carefully look over the estimates re-
CURED to carry it along and give 1t your
liberal support. The amount required II
large, but it is a large, debt we
owe TO these old veterans, and in
our prosperity let US neither forsake mol
forget them. / reco mmend. however, that
the sum be reduced to two hundred thous
and dollars, believing that the estimates
can be cut do wn by the use of the labor o.
the inmates.
The legislature will be called on to patel
up the tax laws and the governor recon
mends study of the advisability Of sub
shutting the county system. He also
wants some provision for a Michigan
representation at exhibitions. More strin
gent laws should be made regulating
methods OF taking fish and to improve ar
gist should be relieved OF tn,
burden of publishing his report a
his own expense and furnishing the state
with thousand copies.
Early in 1885 received from the genera
government the sum Of Sl,624.2l, the same
being the allowance passed to the credi
of this state on the eighth instalment o
our war claim against the government
On the 31st OF March last appointed Hon
Il. W. Keightly of Constantine the agen
of the state TO push these war claims and
make collections thereon, and he is nov
engaged in the work. His compensation
is TO be ten per cent. on all collection
made. and the state is to be subject TO NJ
expense in the matter whatever. l hav,
also received from the government 81, SOB.
81 due to the state as swamp land indem
nifty; also S290l4.07, being money due tn
state on the five per cent. accruing from
the sales of government lands within the
limit OF the state. Total cash received
from the government, S36,0J967.
recommend that an amendment to the
constitution be submitted to the people o
the state with regard to the prohibition o
I
! question comes up at every sitting of tn
! legislature, and so many people have aske,
| its submission to a vote that | RECOMMEND
! the same be done at this session and thu
let the matter be settled.
The governor recommends an appropri
alton of at least 5000 for monument
! marking the situation of Michigan corp
on the field of Gettysburg and a commits
! sion OF three to confer with other states IL
| carrying out the design.
recommend to you that a law be passed
increasing the number of judges of tn
supreme court to five. In one court in tn
| upper peninsula the tax law was held t.
be constitutional and the supreme cour
affirmed the decision by tie vote. In
court IN the lower peninsula the tax Law
was held to be unconstitutional, and agail
affirmed by tie vote. Consequently, II
one portion of the state the law is held q
be constitutional and in another portion
unconstitutional, and there should be
fifth person to break the tie. / also recon
mend that the salaries of the suprem
judges be increased to 200 a year at least
In this connection i also wish TO call you
attention to the subject of state officers
salaries. The time has come when thi
great state with all its wealth should pa.
its officers such salaries as will supper
them during their official terms. / ais
recommend that the members of the legis
lature be paid a fixed salary of 5000 pei
! term.
The governor Joins with the audito
general in recommending a change in thu
commencement of the fiscal year. An ap
preparation of $4,000 is asked TO carry oil
the historical work undertaken by tn
semi-centennial commission.
No laws should be gwen immediate
effect making appropriations without con
sulting the state treasurer. The governor
acknowledges surprise at the report of tn
board of auditors, who did not find sin
gle case of fraudulently paid bounties il
the state.
Under the act of congress granting al
swamp and overhowed lands to the stat
1873, O4,12 acres were reported by the sec
rotary or interior as coming within tn
: prant hut of this q only 3 go Oh 1